Gala raises money for Chabert Medical Center

Norby Chabert auctions off a pair of autographed footballs, one from the Saints and one from LSU, Friday at A Night for Goodness Sake in Houma.

Benjamin Oliver Hicks/Staff

Kris JohnsonStaff Writer

Published: Friday, March 1, 2013 at 10:46 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, March 1, 2013 at 10:46 p.m.

Greeted by a small orchestra, about 200 people entered state Rep. Gordon Dove's home Friday evening for A Night Out for Goodness' Sake, the annual fundraiser that benefits Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center in Houma.

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Several state and parish officials came out to show their support. Guests included state Sen. Norby Chabert, R-Houma, state Rep. Lenar Whitney, R-Houma, and Terrebonne Parish council members Dirk Guidry and Danny Babin. Attendees enjoyed silent and live auctions, food, drinks and live music to benefit the charity hospital that serves Terrebonne and Lafourche residents.

“This fundraiser is put on each year to purchase equipment for the hospital — equipment that would otherwise take a long time to get,” Chabert said. “You might put in a request and have to wait five, six, eight, sometimes 10 years to get quality items. The bigger ticketed the items, the longer they could take to get.”

Chabert said he remembers growing up when his late father, the hospital's namesake, had to “literally fight in the capital outlay process to get a cancer-screening machine.” That same machine later was responsible for his father's cancer diagnosis.

“That's why we're so proud to say that 100 percent of the proceeds from this event go directly to equipment and patient care,” Chabert said.

This year's auction included items that appeal to men and women, Chabert Foundation Board President Pamela Bonvillain said, such as six-night stays in condominiums in London and San Francisco, fishing trips, jewelry, an autographed New Orleans Saints football, a big screen TV, children's items, furniture, food, art and more.

Chabert is the second-largest state-supported hospital in Louisiana. It primarily served residents of Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Mary, St. Charles, St. James, St. John and Assumption parishes in its infancy but today treats patients from even farther away.

During the nine years of the gala, the foundation has raised more than $500,000 for the hospital, and this benefit now raises about $100,000 a year.

Bonvillain estimated about 200 tickets sold for Friday night's event, plus there were sponsorships by local businesses.

Each year, the foundation asks hospital officials for a wish list, and it uses the money to buy items that meet the hospital's greatest needs.

This year, the wish list had not been received, but Rhonda Green, the hospital's CEO, said a new mammogram machine may be among the requests

Previous purchases include defibrillators, a transport incubator for infants and laparoscope instruments for less-invasive surgeries.

The foundation also bought a bone scanner, which helps detect abnormalities such as tumors. Patients used to have to travel to out-of-area facilities to get a bone scan, and the wait could sometimes be as long as six months.

Started in 1999, the medical center foundation provides a vital service because some of the hospital's equipment is original to Chabert, which was opened 34 years ago, said foundation Executive Director Sam Hotard.

“This hospital covers about nine parishes in this area, so it isn't just important to Terrebonne,” Hotard said. “It's one of the few left of its kind with our clinics and residencies and so much more. So this gala helps us stay up-to-date to be able to continue to provide these services.”

This year's support comes at a time when the hospital has faced state budget cuts and damage from this week's tornado.

On Monday, Green said, the doors to the emergency room were blown out, and there was damage to the switch that controls generator power and the boilers and chillers that supply steam to sterilize equipment.

Several windows at the hospital were shattered, and there was other minor damage. Cars in the hospital parking lot were damaged, and the windows on four state-owned vehicles were shattered.

The medical center received good news in December when a public-private partnership was announced to avert layoffs and devastating service cuts.

The partnership came about after federal Medicaid reimbursement cuts were made in early 2012. Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration and LSU hospital system officials ordered cuts totaling about $152 million among the seven state charity hospitals.

Chabert's share was $14.3 million, which officials said would result in 245 layoffs, about a quarter of its staff, and decimate services.

Ochsner Health System and Terrebonne General Medical Center have stepped in as partners to lease the hospital from the state.

Details of the partnership must be worked out, but state officials said Ochsner and TGMC will lease the 80-bed hospital from the state and maintain Chabert as a safety net for the poor and uninsured.

<p>Greeted by a small orchestra, about 200 people entered state Rep. Gordon Dove's home Friday evening for A Night Out for Goodness' Sake, the annual fundraiser that benefits Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center in Houma. </p><p>Several state and parish officials came out to show their support. Guests included state Sen. Norby Chabert, R-Houma, state Rep. Lenar Whitney, R-Houma, and Terrebonne Parish council members Dirk Guidry and Danny Babin. Attendees enjoyed silent and live auctions, food, drinks and live music to benefit the charity hospital that serves Terrebonne and Lafourche residents.</p><p>“This fundraiser is put on each year to purchase equipment for the hospital — equipment that would otherwise take a long time to get,” Chabert said. “You might put in a request and have to wait five, six, eight, sometimes 10 years to get quality items. The bigger ticketed the items, the longer they could take to get.”</p><p>Chabert said he remembers growing up when his late father, the hospital's namesake, had to “literally fight in the capital outlay process to get a cancer-screening machine.” That same machine later was responsible for his father's cancer diagnosis.</p><p>“That's why we're so proud to say that 100 percent of the proceeds from this event go directly to equipment and patient care,” Chabert said. </p><p>This year's auction included items that appeal to men and women, Chabert Foundation Board President Pamela Bonvillain said, such as six-night stays in condominiums in London and San Francisco, fishing trips, jewelry, an autographed New Orleans Saints football, a big screen TV, children's items, furniture, food, art and more.</p><p>Guests enjoyed food from Copeland's, Melvin's Restaurant, Nancy's Seafood Shack, Edible Arrangements, Big Mike's Smokehouse, Ground Pat'i and Cafe Dominique. Special guest chef Dean Schouest cooked shrimp and crab meat jambalaya, fried fish and fried oysters on site.</p><p>Chabert is the second-largest state-supported hospital in Louisiana. It primarily served residents of Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Mary, St. Charles, St. James, St. John and Assumption parishes in its infancy but today treats patients from even farther away.</p><p>During the nine years of the gala, the foundation has raised more than $500,000 for the hospital, and this benefit now raises about $100,000 a year.</p><p>Bonvillain estimated about 200 tickets sold for Friday night's event, plus there were sponsorships by local businesses. </p><p>Each year, the foundation asks hospital officials for a wish list, and it uses the money to buy items that meet the hospital's greatest needs. </p><p>This year, the wish list had not been received, but Rhonda Green, the hospital's CEO, said a new mammogram machine may be among the requests </p><p>Previous purchases include defibrillators, a transport incubator for infants and laparoscope instruments for less-invasive surgeries.</p><p>The foundation also bought a bone scanner, which helps detect abnormalities such as tumors. Patients used to have to travel to out-of-area facilities to get a bone scan, and the wait could sometimes be as long as six months.</p><p>Started in 1999, the medical center foundation provides a vital service because some of the hospital's equipment is original to Chabert, which was opened 34 years ago, said foundation Executive Director Sam Hotard.</p><p>“This hospital covers about nine parishes in this area, so it isn't just important to Terrebonne,” Hotard said. “It's one of the few left of its kind with our clinics and residencies and so much more. So this gala helps us stay up-to-date to be able to continue to provide these services.” </p><p>This year's support comes at a time when the hospital has faced state budget cuts and damage from this week's tornado. </p><p>On Monday, Green said, the doors to the emergency room were blown out, and there was damage to the switch that controls generator power and the boilers and chillers that supply steam to sterilize equipment.</p><p>Several windows at the hospital were shattered, and there was other minor damage. Cars in the hospital parking lot were damaged, and the windows on four state-owned vehicles were shattered.</p><p>The medical center received good news in December when a public-private partnership was announced to avert layoffs and devastating service cuts.</p><p>The partnership came about after federal Medicaid reimbursement cuts were made in early 2012. Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration and LSU hospital system officials ordered cuts totaling about $152 million among the seven state charity hospitals.</p><p>Chabert's share was $14.3 million, which officials said would result in 245 layoffs, about a quarter of its staff, and decimate services. </p><p>Ochsner Health System and Terrebonne General Medical Center have stepped in as partners to lease the hospital from the state.</p><p>Details of the partnership must be worked out, but state officials said Ochsner and TGMC will lease the 80-bed hospital from the state and maintain Chabert as a safety net for the poor and uninsured.</p><p>Besides the fundraiser, the hospital always accepts donations, Bonvillain said. Checks can be made payable to the Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center Foundation. Contact Hotard at 873-2200.</p>